"Letâs go. We need to get out of here so we donât disturb the Supreme Elder while heâs trying to save Xiao Xiao," Qin Yue quietly reminded Ye Qingchen.
Ye Qingchen nodded and carefully exited the Alchemy Secret Room with her.
Time passed, second by second.
Outside the secret room, Ye Qingchen waited anxiously, unable to sit still. Qin Yue didnât rush to leave and stayed by his side.
Initially, Qin Yue had thought Ye Qingchen was risking his life to find the Ironwood Soul Flower for a close relative or a high-ranking member of the Ye Family. Never had she imagined that he was going to such lengths for a mere servant girl!
To risk life and death for a simple servant!
This made Qin Yue see him in a completely new light.
BOOMâ
Finally, as Ye Qingchen waited anxiously, the heavy stone gate of the secret room opened. The Supreme Elder stepped out, and Ye Qingchen immediately rushed forward.
"Supreme Elder, how is she?" Ye Qingchenâs heart was pounding with apprehension.
The Supreme Elder frowned, and Ye Qingchenâs heart dropped.
Did he... fail?
"What? You have so little faith in this old manâs alchemy skills?" the Supreme Elder glared at Ye Qingchen, displeased. "Xiao Xiao has been saved. I expect sheâll wake up very soon!"
Extreme despair instantly transformed into extreme joy. Ye Qingchen didnât even take the time to thank the Supreme Elder before dashing into the secret room.
Xiao Xiao lay quietly on the bed. The burning aura that had surrounded her was gone, her skin had returned to its usual fairness, and her breathing was even, but she was still in a deep sleep.
ăIn her dream.ă
She felt she was on the edge of a cliff, both feet already over the edge, her body plummeting rapidly.
In the nick of time, a strong, powerful hand reached out, grabbed her, and pulled her back from the precipice.
Xiao Xiao looked up and saw that the one who had saved her was none other than the Young Master she yearned for.
"Young Master!" Xiao Xiao threw herself at him.
ăIn the Alchemy Secret Room.ă
Xiao Xiao suddenly sat up from the bed and threw herself into Ye Qingchenâs embrace. The soft, fragrant girl landed in his arms. Ye Qingchen, who had just been holding Xiao Xiaoâs fair hand, froze instantly.
"Sob... Young Master, am I dead? Is that why I can see you?" she cried. "Young Master, did you die too, so we can be together? Itâs all my fault. Iâm the one who harmed you... sob, sob... The thought of not being able to serve you anymore, of you not being able to eat my chicken... it makes me so sad..."
She thought she was dead and that all of this was happening to her soul. Xiao Xiao clung to Ye Qingchen, weeping inconsolably as her tears soaked his shoulder. He had been so worried about her that he had waited outside the Alchemy Secret Room the whole time and hadnât yet had a chance to get dressed.
Hearing her words, Ye Qingchen couldnât help but be amused.
This little girl actually thinks weâre both dead and gone? Her imagination is really something else!
He let Xiao Xiao hug him and cry her heart out until she was a sniffling, blubbering mess. A happy smile appeared on Ye Qingchenâs face, and he tenderly stroked her head.
"Xiao Xiao, itâs not that easy to die!"
At that moment, the Supreme Elder returned to the Alchemy Secret Room. Seeing the two hugging, he coughed deliberately and spoke with a smile.
Xiao Xiao glanced at the Supreme Elder, then back at Ye Qingchen. She paused, her gaze sweeping over the Alchemy Secret Room. As realization dawned, she asked in astonishment, "What? Iâm not dead?"
"Silly girl! Weâre both alive and well! Besides, Iâm still waiting to eat your chicken in the future!" Ye Qingchen chuckled as he playfully booped her pert nose.
"AHâ"
Hearing Ye Qingchenâs words, Xiao Xiaoâs pretty face instantly flushed red, and she abruptly pushed him away.
I just threw myself at the Young Master! Iâm so screwed! All the secret feelings Iâve suppressed for so many years are out in the open! How can I ever face the Young Master again?
Xiao Xiao wished she could find a crack in the ground to hide in.
ăOutside the Alchemy Secret Room.ă
Ye Changyun stood beside Qin Yue, both smiling as they watched the scene unfolding inside.
"Congratulations, Ye Family Head. With a genius like Ye Qingchen in the Ye Family, his future achievements will be limitless. The Ye Familyâs reputation is destined to become renowned, and leaving Qingyun Town is only a matter of time!"
"You flatter me, Tower Master Qin! Ye Qingchen is still too young and inexperienced, a far cry from you!" Ye Changyun said humbly, but his face couldnât hide a glint of pride.
Ye Qingchenâs talent had returned, and Xiao Xiao had awakened the ten-star Vermilion Bird Holy Soul. Double happiness had graced the Ye Family! They were bound to soar to the heavens in the future!
"Family Head Ye, youâre too modest. During our trip to the Qingyun Mountain Range, Ye Qingchen saved my life twice. His abilities are truly extraordinary," Qin Yue said with a smile.
"What? Ye Qingchen saved you twice!" Ye Changyun was stunned.
How is that possible? In terms of both strength and backing, Qin Yue is far beyond someone Ye Qingchen can compare with! How could Ye Qingchen have possibly saved her? And twice, at that!
Ye Changyun wouldnât believe it even if he were beaten to death.
Qin Yue just shook her head and smiled.
Never mind Ye Changyun; if I were in his shoes and heard the same thing, I wouldnât believe it either.
Just then, Ye Qingchen came out with Xiao Xiao. He had put on a set of the Supreme Elderâs clothes. Although they didnât fit perfectly, it was certainly better than being shirtless.
Xiao Xiao followed Ye Qingchen over to Qin Yue and bowed gracefully. "Tower Master Qin, thank you! My Young Master told me everything. Without your help, he never would have found the Ironwood Soul Flower!"
Qin Yue quickly helped Xiao Xiao up. Sensing something, a flash of shock appeared in the depths of her beautiful eyes, but she quickly hid it and said with a smile, "Little sister, thereâs no need to be so polite! âTower Masterâ sounds so distant. Just call me Sister Qin!"
Ye Qingchen caught Qin Yueâs strange expression. His Dual Pupil Martial Soul trembled, and in the next moment, he heard her thoughts:
Xiao Xiao actually has the ten-star Vermilion Bird Holy Soul! How can the tiny Ye Family possess such a powerful Martial Soul? Her staying with the Ye Family is both a blessing and a curse! It seems I need to remind Ye Qingchen.
Ye Qingchen smiled slightly.
This Qin Yue... sheâs a good one.
"Okay, okay, Sister Qin!" Xiao Xiao smiled sweetly, her lovely eyes curving into two crescent moons.
She found that although Qin Yue had a noble status, she was extremely approachable, making one instinctively want to be close to her.
After a bit of idle chat, Qin Yue stood up to leave.
"I wonât say any more words of thanks. This is my Qin Familyâs Roaring Heaven Thunder. If you ever encounter trouble, you can release it. Any Qin Family expert within a hundred-mile radius who sees the signal will rush to assist at once!" Qin Yue took an inch-long cylinder from her Storage Ring and placed it in Ye Qingchenâs hand.
The Supreme Elderâs eye twitched fiercely when he saw the cylinder.
The Qin Familyâs Roaring Heaven Thunder! The strongest tool the Qin Family uses to aid its honored guests! To see it is to see the Qin Family Head himself in person! All Qin Family experts within a hundred miles must arrive immediately and provide aid with their full strength! In the entire Northern Desolate Country, the number of people who possess a Roaring Heaven Thunder can be counted on one hand! Itâs incredibly precious!
The Supreme Elder hadnât expected Qin Yue to be able to produce a Roaring Heaven Thunder.
It seems her status and position within the Qin Family are truly extraordinary! And now that Ye Qingchen has a Roaring Heaven Thunder, itâs like having an extra life-saving measure! Itâs immensely useful! It could even turn certain death into a chance at life!